THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday joined the global community to commemorate the 2020 World Antibiotics Awareness Week (WAAW) to further strengthen commitment to mitigating the threat posed by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) to peoples’ health and well-being.
The Director-General of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, told newsmen in Abuja that since 2017, NCDC, as the National AMR Coordinating body, had worked closely with states, relevant stakeholders in the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Environment to strengthen surveillance for AMR and raise awareness on this global public health threat.
In 2015, the World Health Organisation set aside the month of November to raise awareness on AMR, which occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites resist the effects of medicines or antimicrobials, making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
Ihekweazu said the NCDC, in collaboration with Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the animal and human health sectors, with support from partners, would commemorate the WAAW between November 18 and 24, with the theme, “Antimicrobials: Handle with care.”
He said: “The goal is to raise awareness on the global threat of AMR and promote responsible antimicrobial usage among healthcare professionals in the animal, human and environment sectors as well as the public.”
